Jul 27, 2012

High-Speed Solar

This week the Obama administration released its final blueprint for expediting utility-scale solar energy development in six southwestern states. The plan encompasses 285,000 acres of public land in 17 “solar energy zones” in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. With an additional 19 million acres of land identified as “variance” areas available for solar development (but without the “fast-tracking” allowed in the 17 zones), the administration estimates that it is laying the groundwork for the development of 23,700 megawatts, enough energy to power 7 million homes.

Reed McManus is a senior editor at Sierra. He has worked on the magazine since Ronald Reagan’s second term. For inspiration, he turns to cartoonist R. Crumb’s Mr. Natural, who famously noted: “Twas ever thus.”

Posted by Sierra Editors at 02:01:16 PM

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